Pic Hits for the week

thursday november 14 Red House Painters: Crazy Pony? There is a correlation between Mark Kozelek's young San Francisco band and northern California icon Neil Young's brand of power folk. Known for spare, moody navel-gazing during their tenure with 4AD, the Painters turned up the volume and put the pedal steel to the metal on their Supreme/Island debut, Songs for a Blue Guitar, which includes a few Youngian flourishes--like offbeat covers of Yes' "Long Distance Runaround" and Paul McCartney and Wings' "Silly Love Songs." Showtime is 10 p.m. Thursday, November 14, at Stinkweeds Record Exchange, 1250 East Apache, Suite 109, in Tempe. The cover is $5. For details call 968-9490.

Tour of World Gymnastics Champions: Tucson's Kerri Strug, that helium-voiced midget with the heart of a lion, was originally scheduled to appear at this event, but you'll have to settle for her fellow gold-medal-winning Olympians from Atlanta--Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu, Amy Chow, Amanda Borden, Jaycie Phelps--and others like Kim Zmeskal and John Roethlisberger. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 14, at Arizona State University Activity Center, Sixth Street and Stadium Drive in Tempe. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster; call 784-4444.

friday november 15 Three Tall Women: Arizona Theatre Company continues its 30th-anniversary season with Edward Albee's 1994 Pulitzer Prize winner about a well-to-do, 92-year-old widow who revisits the past, and who is revisited by the spirits of her younger self. Lawrence Sacharow directed the original New York production, and he also helmed this one. A preview's scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, November 15, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. The press opening is at the same time Saturday, November 16. The rest of this week's performances are at 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday, November 17; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 20. A discussion follows Sunday's matinee. The production continues through Saturday, November 30. Tickets range from $19 to $32, available at Herberger and Dillard's. Call 252-8497 or 678-2222.

"Moonlight and Frank Lloyd Wright": Susan Lockhart, a member of the Taliesin Architects of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, hosts this tour/presentation, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 15, at Scottsdale's Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Cactus Road; the fee is $20, $15 for students and members of the American Institute of Architects or the Wright Foundation. The event highlights the last leg of the Architecture Week '96 commemoration, scheduled Thursday, November 14, through Saturday, November 16; see the Events listing. For general information, call 252-4200.

Angela Davis: Yes, the Angela Davis. The political activist, now a "history of consciousness" professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz, speaks about "Women, Race and Prison" at 3 p.m. Friday, November 15, in Room 250 of the Agriculture Building on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe. Admission is free. Call 965-4399.

Leo Kottke, and Jerry Douglas: Guitarist/raconteur Kottke is much-beloved, but Douglas is the draw here. Jerry's probably the premier Dobro (i.e., lap steel) player in the world. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday, November 15, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $18 and $22, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.

"Heidi Kumao: Hidden Mechanisms" and "Luca Buvoli: Silent Sight": The "mechanisms" in the work of Berkeley, California-born Kumao are largely human, and largely failings--obsession, vanity, sexism, the banality of governmental institutions, the parallel horrors of daily violence and our growing acclimation to it. The artist brings these vices to light--literally--via blunt, repetitive loops projected by zoetropes, 19th-century precursors of movie cameras. New York City's Buvoli specializes in naive, ironic works based on a line of superheroes he dreamed up while reading American comic books as a kid in Italy. "Hidden Mechanisms" opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, November 15, and continues through Sunday, February 2, 1997, at Arizona State University Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill, on the ASU campus in Tempe; Kumao presents a gallery talk at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 19. "Silent Sight" opens with a reception for the artist from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and continues through Saturday, February 15, 1997, in the Experimental Gallery at ASU Art Museum at Matthews Center, located at the intersection of Cady and Tyler malls on the campus. Viewing is free; see the Art Exhibits listings or call 965-2787.

Los Lobos: East L.A.'s wonderful wolves are on the prowl again in support of their new Warner Bros. disc, Colossal Head; see the story on page 94. Wild Colonials share the stage. The all-ages show starts at 9 p.m. Friday, November 15, at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. Tickets are $17.50 in advance, $20 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster; call 894-0707 or 784-4444. A free acoustic set by the Colonials precedes at 5:30 at the Zia Record Exchange store at 105 West University in Tempe; call 829-1967.

saturday november 16 The Harlem Nutcracker: The season of hope opens on a stellar, unconventional note with the world premiere of this jazzy take on the holiday standby. Donald Byrd choreographed, and members of his ensemble, the Group, dance the ballet's roles. David Berger composed the score, and incorporated Duke Ellington's variation on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite into the piece. Ellington's sister, Ruth, and Coretta Scott King worked behind the scenes for three years to get the production staged. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at Gammage Auditorium, Mill and Apache in Tempe. Tickets range from $19 to $30, available at Gammage and Dillard's. For details call 965-3434 or 678-2222.

Henry Rollins: The Renaissance man of postpunk displays his quieter side on Saturday, November 16, reading from his written works in a nonmusical show at Electric Ballroom, 1216 East Apache in Tempe. The all-ages event starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $16 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. Call 894-0707 or 784-4444.

David Rousseve/REALITY: Rousseve, a pioneer of movement-based expressionism, brings his troupe to the Valley for a program that includes excerpts from "Whispers of Angels," featuring music by Me'Shell Ndegeocello; "Pop Dreams," set to the strains of Nina Simone; and "Dry Each Other's Tears in the Stillness of the Night," including music by Jackie Wilson. Some nudity is planned. Showtime is 8 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. Tickets are $20 and $24, available at the center and Ticketmaster. Call 994-2787 or 784-4444.

"Erma and Friends": The 17th annual Arizona Kidney Foundation Authors' Luncheon features a tribute to the late Erma Bombeck and readings by Jimmy Breslin, Art Buchwald, Michael Blake and Clive Cussler, all stumping in support of new books. Pat McMahon emcees. The event begins with an autograph session at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 16; lunch follows at noon, and the readings begin at 1. The scene is the Phoenician resort, 6000 East Camelback. Tickets are $65; proceeds benefit the foundation. Call 840-1644.

"Art on the S.A.L.T. Trail": The self-guided tour of East Valley artists' studios includes stops at the workplaces of Anne Coe, John Dawson, Lorna Holmes and many others. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 16; a reception follows at 4:30 at the former studio of the late Ted DeGrazia, now a private home. Maps cost $15; all proceeds benefit the Superstition Area Land Trust and the Boys & Girls Club of Apache Junction. Call 983-0837 or 982-0473.

sunday november 17 Harry Connick Jr. and His Funk Band: The modern-day crooner from down Nawlins way adds a little spice to his slick swing at this show, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 17, at Union Hall, Sixth Street and Van Buren. Tickets are $23 and $27 in advance, $24 and $28 the day of the show, available at the hall and Dillard's. For details call 253-7100 or 678-2222.

Brother, Brother, Stop!: Disco-diva trio Sister Sledge ("We Are Family") stars in this social-conscience musical about life in the gang-infested 'hood; it's based on the title song by Sledge sister Joni. The production has its world premiere at 7 p.m. Sunday, November 17, at River Auditorium, 40th Street and I-10. Another show is scheduled at the same time Wednesday, November 20. More performances are planned Thursday, November 21, through Sunday, November 24. General-admission seating is free; reserved seating costs $10, with proceeds benefiting Mothers Against Gangs. For details call 437-3912.

monday november 18 Marshall Crenshaw, and Victor DeLorenzo: Vastly underrated popster Crenshaw ("Someday, Someway") and former Violent Femme DeLorenzo make for a magnificent double bill; see the story about the former on page 93. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Monday, November 18, at the Rockin' Horse, 7316 East Stetson in Scottsdale. Tickets are $10, available at the scene and Ticketmaster. For details call 949-0992 or 784-4444.

Everything but the Girl: The English haute-jazz duo, consisting of vocalist Tracey Thorn and guitarist Ben Watt, returns for a show on Monday, November 18, at Celebrity Theatre, 440 North 32nd Street. Frente shares the bill. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.50 in advance, $21 the day of the show, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 267-9373 or 678-2222.

tuesday november 19 The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg): A screening of director Jacques Demy's unusual--and unusually beautiful--1964 musical (unrated), starring Catherine Deneuve and featuring a fine score by Michel Legrand, is scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, at Harkins Arcadia 8, 40th Street and Thomas. Tickets are $5, $3 for students. The showing is one of the highlights of French Week '96, which starts Sunday, November 17, and continues through Saturday, November 23; see the Events listing. For general information, call 534-2664.

Dave Matthews Band: The way-popular band is back, touring behind Crash, its follow-up to the RCA smash Under the Table and Dreaming. G. Love & Special Sauce open at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. Tickets are $22.50 in advance, $27 the day of the show, available at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7800 or 678-2222.

wednesday november 20 The Lemonheads: Up 'til now, head Lemonhead Evan Dando has been something akin to the Bobby Sherman of the '90s, worshiped by screaming waifs for his improbable cheekbones and his lite-pop angst (Request labeled the sound "bubblegrunge") and vigorously pummeled by anyone with critical pretensions (one rather spiteful on-line publication, Die, Evan Dando, Die, features departments like "Bands That Are So Much Better Than the Lemonheads That It Ain't Even Funny"). But you have to give Dando his due; following a recent intervention for drug addiction, he risked alienating the teenyboppers by moving the 'heads in a darker, less chewy direction, as chronicled on their new Atlantic album, car button cloth. Fountains of Wayne shares the all-ages bill. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, at Gibson's, 410 South Mill in Tempe. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 the day of the show, available at Ticketmaster. For details call 967-1234 or 784-4444.